Heuglin's spurfowl is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda. The German explorer Theodor von Heuglin first described the species.
Region
Central and East Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from South Sudan south and west into northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and northwestern Uganda. Prefers lowland savanna mosaics, riverine woodland, thickets, and the edges of tall grass near water. Often uses secondary habitats and farmland edges, including fallow fields and scrubby clearings. Roosts in low trees or dense shrubs and forages mostly on the ground in cover.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Heuglin's spurfowl, also called Heuglin's francolin, is a ground-dwelling gamebird of riverine woodlands and savannas. It was first described by the German explorer Theodor von Heuglin and is notable for its bright yellow bill. Pairs often duet at dawn, giving loud, ringing calls that carry over long distances. It is commonly hunted locally but remains widespread in suitable habitat.
Temperament
shy and wary
Flight Pattern
explosive flush with rapid, whirring wingbeats; short, low flights
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family coveys, especially outside the breeding season. Nests are simple ground scrapes hidden in grass or under bushes, with well-camouflaged eggs. Monogamous pairs often remain together year-round, and chicks are precocial, following adults soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, ringing series of cackling notes, often given antiphonally by pairs at dawn and dusk. Calls accelerate and rise slightly in pitch, carrying over long distances through savanna and riverine woodland.
Plumage
Heavily mottled and vermiculated brown upperparts with paler buff and whitish scalloping; underparts barred and streaked with darker chevrons. Head and neck grayish-brown with finer streaking; throat often paler. Feathers are dense and slightly glossy on the mantle, with coarser, more barred feathers below.
Diet
Feeds on seeds, grains, green shoots, and berries, supplemented by insects such as termites, beetles, and grasshoppers. Will also take bulbs and small tubers unearthed while scratching. Diet shifts seasonally, with more invertebrates taken during rains and more seeds during the dry season.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the ground in dense grass, along paths, field margins, and at the edges of woodland and cultivation. Often visits recently burned or harvested areas where seeds and insects are exposed.
